Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about workmen’s cold drinks

347 replies

Ladyofmainlyleisure · 29/03/2021 22:00

We are having new windows and a front door fitted.
I was out all day with the dog, but when I returned DP said he’d got some cold drinks in for the fitters, as they had been asking for them.
They had been offered and had drunk many cups of tea and coffee, but apparently wanted cold drinks too.
We have lemon squash in the house which they could drink, but they wanted coke and fruit juices.

My DP went to the shop and purchased Coke and Oasis for them.

My thoughts are: they’ve had hot drinks and a suitable cold drink has been offered.
If my DP can go to the shop and purchase drinks, why can’t they?

They worked 9-5 today and will do approx 9-1 tomorrow and we live in a small city, so not long days away from civilisation!

I know it’s not the end of the world, but requesting specific drinks, that we wouldn’t have in the house otherwise, seems a bit much!

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 31/03/2021 17:47

When we had our house repainted a few years ago during August I left a cooler full of bottled water outside for the painters. I think it's just common courtesy and helps create goodwill.

Bluehues · 31/03/2021 17:48

I think it’s a bit rude as even if a close friend was over, if they asked do you have any coke & I said no, I can’t imagine them saying “well can you go to the shop & get some?”

TinselTinsel · 31/03/2021 17:50

I'm the tight arse that offers the workmen as few drinks as possible .
I want them to crack on and bugger off!

Hamhockandmash · 31/03/2021 17:51

They’d be screwed in my house, we only have water and we never have milk, so it’s be water or black coffee and that would be the end of it!

CookieClub · 31/03/2021 17:53

Joysex renovation AKA labiaplasty?

Rightsaidmabel · 31/03/2021 17:53

@23PissOffAvenueWF:
A ‘dwang’ sounds like something George and Zippy would pluck on, while Geoffrey raises his eyebrows suggestively, referencing his instrument.

P.S. I bet it gives rigidity...

It does! Grin

Roxy69 · 31/03/2021 17:55

Coke and Oasis, it's a joke right! Both unhealthy so they should have water from the tap.

Passenger42 · 31/03/2021 17:56

You were too soft, a tray of lemon squash with ice would have sufficed. Or get a supermarket brand of lemonade in ready for tomorrow not coke. They won’t complain trust me

Mumof5x · 31/03/2021 17:57

I mean context is important here. If they knocked on the door and said 'excuse me can you please go to shop and buy us xy and z thats ridiculous. If your DH asked them what they wanted to drink and offered to get them what they wanted then...who cares?! If they are doing a god job and working hard good for your DH. They are much more likely to give extra to people that are being extra friendly and your husband sounds like a good guy, he hardly walked for miles! Seems a bizarre thing to take to mums net over in my opinion

Mumof5x · 31/03/2021 17:59

My DH is a landscape garden and comes home so pleased when people have been so kind...he also tells me story's of some real monsters to work for and I am wording if some of them are on this post haha. Lifes to short for this stuff

FOJN · 31/03/2021 17:59

I can't believe someone said it's no trouble to get the builders a slab of coke. I've been doing it all wrong with tea and biscuits. Does it make them work faster or just more cheerfully?

No I think it just makes them loud. If it's faster and cheerful you want I'd recommend speed and perhaps a bit of e.

VK456 · 31/03/2021 18:00

I’m not the least bit surprised, sadly. What a cheek!

Mylittlepea · 31/03/2021 18:05

Gutted I’ve RTFT and still no explanation about joysex Grin

Luddite26 · 31/03/2021 18:07

Midlifelady do you not know how many people are waiting for your return?

RLABC · 31/03/2021 18:17

We had some garden work done this week. On the morning of the first day, about 1.5-2 hours after the guys started my husband called me to ask how it was going and also asked me to make them a coffee. I was busy but it was on my mind that when I could stop or a tea break I'd ask them if they wanted a drink. An hour later, I'm up on the balcony putting the washing out, in view of the workmen. While I'm still up there the doorbell rings so I go to see who it is. At the same time my husband is calling again, I didn't answer because I was closer to the front door. I open it to see one of the workmen, he asked if they could have water. Thinking he meant for the garden, I showed him where the hosepipe was. No, they wanted water to drink. I gave glasses of tap water which I wasn't happy about (covid) but new I would make sure not to touch the glasses again. Then I called my husband back, he'd called me to say the workmen had called him to ask for me to get them a drink, when they'd seen me on the balcony working! I was so pissed off, who does that?! Is it my job to worry about if/when they're thirsty? I was thirsty but hadn't had a chance to get myself a drink so why would I think about them? I put a big bottle of tap water outside for them and let them get on with it after that.
Day two they bring a case of water bottles Smile
Day three they bring a camping stove, mugs, coffee etc. Grin

Now, where is @Midlifelady??! Grin

StopAtTheRedLight · 31/03/2021 18:17

Exactly!

Tigerstripe20 · 31/03/2021 18:19

DH is trade and always takes his own stuff, a lot of customers don’t really offer stuff at the moment .
Op I think they saw your DH coming, cheeky buggers
My mums neighbour is having renovations done and her builders mentioned a bacon sandwich would be nice to my mum when she was cooking some .. my mum might be elderly but she knows when to say on yer bike mate!

CallmeBadJanet · 31/03/2021 18:35

@Ladyofmainlyleisure Bigtime CFs (did they actually request cokes or did your DH try to be a best bud and offer them cokes?) Side bar. There is a global pandemic on. They should be bringing their own tea/coffee made in their own homes, your household shouldn’t be making drinks for them, or handling cups they have drunk from.

LovePoppy · 31/03/2021 18:43

I do not understand the uk tradition of feeding all the builders.

It’s insanity to me to keep them full of tea and food

LovePoppy · 31/03/2021 18:45

@Tigerstripe20

DH is trade and always takes his own stuff, a lot of customers don’t really offer stuff at the moment . Op I think they saw your DH coming, cheeky buggers My mums neighbour is having renovations done and her builders mentioned a bacon sandwich would be nice to my mum when she was cooking some .. my mum might be elderly but she knows when to say on yer bike mate!
This just boggles my mind.

Passive aggressive to the neighbour?? It’s bad enough they do it to the homeowner!

kizzywizz · 31/03/2021 19:11

@Plumedenom

I think lemon squash should be sufficient for a window renovation but for a joysex renovation you definitely need something with a little more caffeine. I had my carawank done over and they had the cheek to ask for bacon butty!
Oh God, now we've got a carawank, do you think she has her joysex in the carawank ?
DoWhatYouWantTo · 31/03/2021 19:14

Sounds like The Hubster offered them a drink and offered them a selection. He saw how mad you were and told you they had asked for it.
#justsaying

pam290358 · 31/03/2021 19:17

Sorry OP but I feed workmen too - bacon butties etc, and copious amounts of tea and coffee. I might be a bit peeved if they were asking for expensive stuff, but a can of Coke etc isn’t that hard - and possibly your hubby offered rather than them asking/

caspersmagicaljourney · 31/03/2021 19:21

That's cheeky of the workmen tbh, especially as they had already received tea and coffee, etc.
I would have offered whatever I'd already got in the house and wouldn't have gone out especially to buy additional drinks, unless I was going shopping anyway. I might have offered then.

Leedsfan247 · 31/03/2021 19:22

Always good to look after tradespeople and keep them on side - a few cold drinks - c’mon